Abu Dhabi Planning Car Free City

Abu Dhabi Planning Car Free City

January 2008  - President George 
W. Bush today saw a model of Masdar City - the world's first zero carbon, 
zero waste, car free city. Plans call for the green, sustainable city to 
open by 2009 in the desert sands of this federation of Gulf states that 
have built their wealth on oil and natural gas. 
After viewing a model of the proposed city at the Emirates Palace Hotel, 
President Bush said, "We just heard a briefing about how they're going to 
construct a city based entirely upon renewable energy. It will be an 
opportunity to see what works and what won't work, and an opportunity to 
share their technology with others." 
"I appreciate the commitment to conservation and to the environment, and 
the leadership you've shown here," the president said before leaving for 
Dubai and Saudi Arabia on the last leg of his Middle East visit that began 
January 9 in Israel. 

The electricity for the six square kilometer Masdar City will be generated 
by photovoltaic panels, while cooling will be provided with concentrated 
solar power. 
Drinking water will be provided through a solar-powered desalination 
plant. Landscaping within the city and crops grown outside the city will 
be irrigated with grey water and treated waste water produced by the 
city's water treatment plant. 
Ground breaks for the construction of the city in early 2008 and is 
scheduled to open late in 2009. 
A model of the Masdar City will be unveiled on January 21, at the World 
Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, billed as the world's largest 
conference and exhibition on future energy solutions, innovations, 
investments, and policy. 
Masdar City will host the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology; 
world-class laboratories and research facilities; commercial space for 
clean-tech companies; light manufacturing facilities and a carefully 
selected pool of international tenants who will invest, develop, and 
commercialize advanced energy technologies. 
Design and operation of Masdar City must deal with the realities of Abu 
Dhabi's sub-tropical, arid climate where temperatures range from a low of 
around 10° Celsuis (50° F), to a high of around 48° C (118° F) in the 
summer. 
The city is part of the Masdar Initiative, Abu Dhabi's investment in the 
exploration, development and commercialization of future energy sources 
and clean technology solutions. 
"The world needs a portfolio of solutions," said Dr. Sultan al Jaber, CEO 
of Masdar. "It can no longer be hydrocarbons or renewables. It is a 
combination of both." 

The Gulf real estate sector must address sustainability issues if it wants 
to deliver the US$500 billion of developments planned for the next seven 
years in the region, Dr. al Jaber has said. 
The global conservation organization WWF will work with Masdar to ensure 
the city meets standards of sustainability which include specific targets 
for the city's ecological footprint. 
The cooperation will take place through the "One Planet Living™" program, 
a global initiative launched by WWF and environmental consultancy 
BioRegional. 
Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, director of WWF International's One Planet Living 
initiative, said, "Today Abu Dhabi is embarking on a journey to become the 
global capital of the renewable energy revolution. Abu Dhabi is the first 
hydrocarbon-producing nation to have taken such a significant step towards 
sustainable living." 
The principles of the Masdar Target include zero carbon, zero waste, and 
sustainable transport through facilitating and encouraging the use of 
public transport, vehicle sharing, supporting low emissions vehicle 
initiatives. 
Sustainable materials will be used and construction specifications are 
based on high recycled materials content within building products, Forest 
Stewardship Council certified timber, and bamboo. Energy used to 
manufacture materials will be tracked and the reduction of embodied energy 
within materials and throughout the construction process will be 
encouraged. 
Sustainable food will be plentiful in Masdar City and retail outlets will 
meet targets for supplying organic food and sustainable and or fair trade 
products 
The sustainable water target specifies that per capita water consumption 
will be at least 50 percent less than the national average and all waste 
water will be re-used. 
All "valuable" wildlife species will be conserved or relocated with 
positive mitigation targets, according to the Masdar target. 
Cultural sustainability will be encouraged so that the architecture will 
integrate local values, fair wages and working conditions for all workers 
as defined by international labor standards will apply, and facilities and 
events will be provided for every demographic group. 
Dr. al Jaber said, "We are pleased to be able to work with One Planet 
Living to make our vision a reality." 
"Masdar City will question conventional patterns of urban development, and 
set new benchmarks for sustainability and environmentally friendly 
design," the Masdar CEO said. "The students, faculty and businesses 
located in Masdar City will not only be able to witness innovation 
first-hand, but they will also participate in its development."

U.S. companies and universities will participate in the building and 
operation of Masdar. The U.S. company CH2M HILL will be the program 
manager for the first phase of the development and will be responsible for 
technology integration and for aligning the efforts of the designers, 
contractors, and third parties with program goals and standards. 
"Masdar is inspiring for its vision, boldness and leadership," said CH2M 
HILL chief executive Ralph Peterson. "It promises to showcase and 
accelerate the development and adoption of technologies in renewable 
energy, energy efficiency, carbon management, waste management and water 
usage." 
"As innovations and applications created by the Masdar initiative take 
hold, cities around the world will surely benefit, making a great idea a 
truly transformative idea," Peterson said. 
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, and the Abu Dhabi Future 
Energy Company signed an agreement in February 2007 that will allow MIT's 
Technology and Development Program to help develop the Masdar Institute of 
Science and Technology, the first institution dedicated to research-driven 
graduate programs in the region. 
"MIT faculty and staff will provide advice, scholarly assessment and 
assistance in connection with the establishment of the Masdar Institute," 
said MIT Chancellor Phillip Clay. "This includes working with ADFEC to 
develop collaborative research and create indigenous academic programs, to 
create a strategy for commercializing Masdar Institute's research results 
and to build the institute's organizational and administrative 
capabilities." 
The Masdar Institute plans to admit its first postgraduate students in Abu 
Dhabi in the summer of 2009. 
"The Masdar Institute will serve as the nucleus of the Masdar Initiative, 
feeding it with talent and innovative technologies to enhance economic 
development and promote new industries using renewable energy and 
resources in the emirate and the region," said Masdar CEO Dr. al Jaber, 
who is also the ADFEC. chief executive. 
Pooran Desai OBE, co-founder of BioRegional and Technical Director of the 
One Planet Living Communities program, said Masdar would be the largest 
and one of the most advanced sustainable communities in the world. 
"The vision of One Planet Living is a world where people everywhere can 
lead happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the Earth's 
resources," he said. "Masdar gives us a breathtaking insight into this 
positive, alternative future." 

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